David Jonsson, Olivia Colman and Kunal Nayyar join animated film 'Bollywoof'

David Jonsson, Olivia Colman and Kunal Nayyar lead the voice cast of animated family film 'Bollywoof', set in India

David Jonsson, Olivia Colman and Kunal Nayyar are set to lead the voice cast of Bollywoof, an upcoming animated family film from Prime Focus Studios and Embankment Films.

Jonsson, who was recently announced as Marvel’s next Black Panther, will be joined by Oscar winner Colman and The Big Bang Theory star Nayyar. The voice cast also includes Rhys Ifans, known for Notting Hill, Sanjeev Bhaskar from Unforgotten and Ambika Mod, who starred in One Day.

Directed by Frederik Du Chau, known for Racing Stripes, Bollywoof follows a British pet dog who becomes lost in the busy streets of Kolkata. While trying to find his way home, the dog teams up with a charismatic street dog.

The pair then embark on a journey across India that features comedy, action, music and colourful visuals. According to the film’s synopsis, the story will explore the relationship between India and the U.K., while also focusing on the bond between people and their pets.

The screenplay was written by Stephen Leslie. Jason Newmark, Bob Thompson, Andrew Baker, Laurie Cook, Nisha Parti and Gregory Gavanski are producing the film, with animation handled by ReDefine Originals and Prime Focus Studios.

Newmark said the filmmakers wanted a voice cast that could match the film’s scale and emotional appeal. He praised Jonsson as an actor poised to become a major star and described Colman as one of her generation’s finest performers.

Producer Vyas said Bollywoof is the first Western-style animated film set in contemporary India. The team hopes it can have a cultural impact similar to Ratatouille and Coco.

The film is financed by the National Bank of Canada, with Embankment Films handling global sales.